The Michigan Daily - SportsMonday - November 11, 2002 - 5B "IT'S A PRETTY UGLY TROPHY, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT MEANS A LOT." - MICHIGAN LINEBACKER VICTOR HOBSON ON WINNING THE LITTLE BROWN JUG WEEKEND'S BEST COUGAR PRIDE: Washington State took yet another step toward its second Pac-10 title in school history with a come-from-behind 32-21 win over Ore- gon. The win, coupled with Oklahoma's loss to Texas A&M, should move the Cougars up in the BCS. HOW THE AP TOP 25 FARED Associated Press Poll for week of November 5. All games played November 9. Quarterback Jason Gesser threw for four touchdown passes, including two scored within the span of a minute in the fourth quarter. The Cougars, who were trailing by three points, ended up scoring the final 15 points of the con- test. Jermaine Green also had a tremendous offensive performance, rushing for a career-high 180 yards. FIESTA TIME: The Buckeyes no longer have look over their shoulders, as they have a clear path to the Fiesta Bowl if they win out - thanks to a dramatic 10-6 win over Purdue on Saturday. Trailing by three points late in the fourth, facing 4th-and-1 at the Purdue 37-yard line, Ohio State ran up to the line without a huddle looking to pass. Krenzel scrambled to avoid the rush and threw a wobbly pass to Michael Jenkins for the eventual winning score. "I knew all the guys wanted it. We needed it," Jenkins said. "This was kind of like our season right here and they wanted to spoil it. It's a great feeling." Team: 1. Oklahoma 2. Miami (Fla.) 3. Ohio State 4. Texas 5. Washington State 6. Iowa 7. Georgia 8. Virginia Tech 9. Notre Dame 10. Southern Cal. 11. Alabama 12. Kansas State 13. MICHIGAN 14. North Carolina State 15. Oregon 16. Louisiana State 17. Florida State 18. Colorado 19. Penn State 20. Bowling Green 21. Iowa State 22. Pittsburgh 23. Florida 24. Colorado State 25. Arizona State Last week: lost to Texas A&M 30-26 beat Tennessee 26-3 beat Purdue 10-6 beat baylor 41-0 beat Oregon 32-21 beat Northwestern 62-10 beat Mississippi 31-17 lost to Syracuse 50-42 beat Navy 30-23 beat Stanford 49-17 beat Vanderbilt 30-8 beat Iowa State 58-7 BEAT MINNESOTA 41-24 lost to Maryland 24-21 lost to Washington State 32-21 beat Kentucky 33-30 beat Georgia Tech 21-13 beat Missouri 42-35 beat Virginia 35-14 lost to Northern Illinois 26-17 lost to Kansas State 58-7 beat temple 29-22 beat Vanderbilt 21-17 beat Air Force 31-12 lost to California 55-38 This week: at Baylor Pittsburgh at Illinois at Texas Tech Idle at Minnesota at Auburn West Virginia Idle Arizona State at Louisiana State Nebraska WIScONSIN at Virginia Washington Alabama North Carolina Iowa State at Indiana at Northern Illinois at Colorado at Miami South Carolina at San Diego State at Southern Cal. NEW AP TOP 25 (first-place votes in parentheses) TEAM PTS PVS 1. Miami (Fla.) (74) 1,850 2 2. Ohio State 1,771 3 3. Washington State 1,592 5 4. Texas 1,590 4 5. Oklahoma 1,590 1 6. Iowa 1,560 6 7. Georgia 1,403 7 8. Southern Cal. 1,275 10 9. Notre Dame 1,256 9 10. Alabama 1,175 11 11. Kansas State 1,114 12 12. MICHIGAN 1,021 13 13. Virginia Tech 818 8 14. Louisiana State 816 16 15. Florida State 725 17 16. Penn State 649 19 17. Colorado 628 18 18. Pittsburgh 561 22 19. Maryland 527 NR 20. Florida 437 23 21. Colorado State 391 24 22. North Carolina State 382 14 23. Oregon 344 15 24. Auburn 138 NR 25. Texas Christian 118 NR Others receMng votes: Boise State, Bowling Green, UCLA, Texas A&M, Iowa State, West Vir- ginia, Air Force, Arkansas, Marshall, Tennessee Washington State's Jason Gesser AP PHOTO Oregon State defender Dennis Weathersby collides with Washington's Reggie Williams in the endzone during the final quarter. . 5.OUT NG THE NATION THE DAILY'S PLAYERS OF THE WEEK The performances by this week's players include everything from luck to per- fection. Devery Henderson's game-winning, Hail Mary catch at the end of Louisiana State's victory over Kentucky was something special. Reggie McNeal's clutch performance while filling in for regular starter Dustin Long helped the Aggies upset Oklahoma. and finally, Brad Banks' perfect perform- ance against Northwestern has Iowa fans screaming Heisman. DEVERY HENDERSON, LOUISIANA STATE Why Henderson?: Wide receiver Devery " Henderson, lucky or not, was on the finish- ing end of one of the greatest plays in col- lege football history. With Louisiana State down by three to Kentucky and 75 yards from the end zone, Tigers' quarterback Marcus Randall launched a pass that deflected into Henderson's hands for a stunning touchdown and a 33-30 Louisiana State victory. A Kentucky player leapt and tipped the ball right into Henderson's hands at the Wildcats' 25-yard line. The receiver then grabbed the ball and sprinted between two defenders, untouched for the score. Henderson's day wasn't limited to the final miracle catch, though, as he fin- E$ ished with five receptions for 201 yards Louisiana State's Devery Henderson and the final touchdown. BRAD BANKS, IOWA: Why Banks?: If Iowa quarterback Brad Banks wants to throw his name into Heis- man Trophy contention, playing perfect football isn't a bad way to go about things. Banks was 10 of 10 passing, including three touchdowns tosses, and also ran for two touchdowns as the Hawkeyes swamped hapless Northwest- ern, 62-10, leaving Iowa one win away from a perfect Big Ten season. Iowa led the Wildcats just 14-7 after the first quar- ter, but then the Hawkeyes proceeded to score 48 of the game's next 51 points, with Banks running for his two touch- downs in the second quarter to start the onslaught. As if that wasn't enough, Banks' backup, Nathan Chandler, also fin- ished a perfect 2 of 2 on his pass attempts, for 33 yards to ice the victory. Iowa's Brad Banks REGGIE MCNEm, TEXAS A&M Why McNeal? Reggie McNeal did not initially get the starting nod at quarter- back for Texas A&M, but he may have earned it for the rest of the season and beyond. The freshman completed eight of 13 passes for 191 yards and four touchdowns, while also running for 89 yards as the Aggies stunned top-ranked Oklahoma, 30-26, putting a serious damper in the Sooners' Fiesta Bowl chances. McNeal entered the game after starter Dustin Long was ineffec- tive, and the Aggies were trailing 10-0. He proceeded to throw touchdown passes of 61, 40, 17 and 40 yards en route to a 30-23 lead late in the game. Oklahoma kicked a field goal to cut the Texas A&M's Reggie McNeal lead to four, but was unable to punch in AP PHOTOS the winner. GAME PROGRESSION First Quarter: Running back Chris Perry fumbles on the Wolverines' first play of the game, giving the Gophers the ball on Michi- gan's 17-yard line. Minnesota kicker Dan Nystrom converts a 32-yard field goal for the early lead. Minnesota 3, Michigan O After a botched punt attempt by the Gophers, in which the snap sailed over punter Preston Gruening's head and put Michigan on Minnesota's 14- yard line, John Navarre completes a 1 0-yard touchdown pass to Ronald Bellamy to give Michigan the lead. Adam Finley converts the extra point. Michigan 7, Minnesota 3 Second Quarter: Michigan increased its lead to seven when kicker Finley nails a 22-yard field goal with 3:41 left in the first quarter. Michigan 10, Minnesota 3 Michigan builds on its lead later in the second when Navarre orchestrates a seven-play, 76-yard drive capped off by a 16-yard Chris Perry touchdown run. , Finley converts the PAT. Michigan 17, Minnesota 3 Third Quarter: Minnesota comes out firing in the second half, as quarterback Abdul- Khaliq connects on a six-yard touchdown pass to receiver Tony Patterson to get the Gophers back into the game. Nystrom converts the PAT. Michigan 17, Minnesota 10 Minnesota tied the game with 6:06 left in the third quarter as Abdul- Khaliq found receiver Antoine Burns for a 27-yard touchdown pass. Nystrom converts the PAT. Michigan 17, Minnesota 17 The Wolverines quickly regain the lead less than three minutes later, when Navarre's 36-yard pass to Braylon Edwards sets up a 24-yard field goal by Finley. Michigan 20, Minnesota 17 Just one minute later, Michigan's Pierre Woods blocks a punt which is recovered at Minnesota's 10-yard line. Navarre connects on a 10-yard fade to Braylon Edwards on the very next play for a touchdown. Finley converts the PAT. Michigan 27, Minnesota 17 Fourth Quarter: The Wolverines increase their lead in the fourth as B.J. Askew scores on a four-yard touchdown run after an interception by Jeremy LeSueur. Finley converts the PAT. Michigan 34, Minnesota 17 Askew strikes again with 11:10 left in the fourth quarter, when he runs for a career-high 59-yard touchdown run. Finley converts the PAT. Michigan 41, Minnesota 17 Minnesota tacks on a touchdown with 7:18 left in the game. Nystrom converts the PAT. Michigan 41, Minnesota 24 NEWS AND NOTES Georgia receiver Terrence Edwards did his best to make up for that dropped pass against Florida. Then, his season took another unfortunate turn. Edwards caught five passes for 90 yards, including a 33-yard touchdown, as the seventh-ranked Bulldogs beat Mississippi 31-17 Saturday night. But Edwards couldn't come up with the final throw that came his way, falling hard on his left shoulder as he attempted to make a diving catch early in the fourth quarter. He was helped to the lockerroom, where doctors diagnosed a sprain that will keep the senior receiver out three to six weeks. Michigan State wide receiver Charles Rogers set a school record, grabbing his 24th and 25th career touchdown receptions against Indiana on Saturday. More importantly, perhaps, was the fact that interim Spartans' coach Morris Watts got off to a great start, as his team rolled past the Hoosiers, 56-21 in Bloomington. Bryan Randall completed 23 of 35 passes for 504 yards and a Virginia Tech school-record five touchdowns against Syracuse. ' Unfortunately for the Hokies, it turned out to be too little, as the Orangemen stunned Virginia Tech, 50-42 in three over- times as Randall threw an interceptbrn to end the game. The two teams combined for 1,163 yards during the game. Connecticut police used pepper spray and dogs to keep stu- dents from rushing the goal posts after the final game at Memorial Stadium on Saturday. The Huskies closed out their 50-year run at the stadium with a record-breaking 63-21 win over Kent State. About 100 students ran onto the field and celebrated for a few minutes. They then turned their attention to the south goal post and encountered a dozen campus police officers with two dogs lined up in front of the goal posts. Byron Leftwich's Heisman Trophy campaign looks like it will take a major hit on Tuesday night, as the Marshall quarterback is doubtful for the Thundering Herd's game against Miami (Ohio) with an injured left shin. Leftwich was hurt in Marshall's 34-20 loss to Akron on Nov. 2. He returned to the game that week, but was limping badly enough that, late in the game, two offensive lineman were carrying him to and from the huddle to prevent him from putting weight on his leg. Ian Smart set an NCAA Division II record for career rushing touchdowns when he scored three times to lead C.W. Post to a 21-18 win over previously unbeaten Bentley. Smart, who now has 90 touchdowns, broke the record of 88 touchdowns held by Brian Shay of Emporia State, who played from 1995-98. WHAT THEY'RE SAYING Navy had Notre Dame on the ropes on Saturday, with a chance to beat the Irish for the first time in 39 games. But between bad defensive play and some shaky quarterbacking from Aaron Polanco, the Midshipmen fell apart, eventually falling yet again to Notre Dame, 30-23. "It was our game to have," Polanco said. "We could have won; we should have won. You can't be proud after a loss." California didn't waste a lot of time coming together under first-year coach Jeff Tedford. After going 1-10 last season, the Golden Bears wrapped up their sixth win of the year against No. 25 Arizona State, good enough to make them bowl eligible "I've never been to a bowl game, so I'm fired up," California running back Joe Igber said. "Hopefully, the football gods are smiling upon us, whoever that may be, and maybe we'll go." Just because Southern Cal. kept its Rose Bowl and BCS chances alive with a 49-17 rout of Stanford on the road Satur- day, don't think that Carson Palmer was satisfied. The South- ern Cal. quarterback tossed four touchdowns and led the Trojans to touchdowns on seven of 12 possessions, but left thinking he should have had more. "I'm mad, I'm frustrated, and I'm angry," Palmer said. "The whole offense is. We shouldehave scored every time we had the ball." Staff and wire reports contributed to this report. Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez WHO'S NEXT: WISCONSIN After a solid performance on the road at Minnesota, the Wolverines will return to the Big House for their final home game of the season against the Badgers. Michigan has not lost to Wisconsin since 1994 (a 31-19 loss at home), and hopes to contin- ue the offensive momentum its had in its past two blowoutmvictories which they scored 40-plus points each time. BIG TEN STANDINGS I Pulling the ol' switcheroo Mired in a slump the likes of which had never been seen before, football writer Joe Smith made a bold move: He made his picks with his gut instinct, then reversed them. The move paid big dividends for Smith, who tied David Horn for the win this week. Is this a change for season for Smith? We will have to see, but you have to wonder if you are bank- ing on taking the opposite of Smith's picks to win, now do you take the opposite of the opposite or just take what is printed? At the top, Horn has now regained form and is battling with J. Brady he( ..i a and offPiln nr a Th Adi-toun EBilg STAFF PICKS WEEK 10 SELECTIONS ALL PICKS MADE AGAINST THE SPREAD. CORRECT PICK IN BOLD. Michigan (-6;5) at MINNESOTA IowA (-28) vs. Northwestern Ohio State (-6.5) at PURDUE INDIANA (-2.5) vs. Michigan State PENN STATE (16) VS. Virginia MARYLAND (-6.5) vs. North Carolina State Louisiana State (-5) at KENTUCKY Virginia Tech (-1 2 AT SYRACUSE David Horn Michigan Iowa Ohio State Michigan State Penn State North Carolina State Kentucky Virginia Tech J. Brady McCollough Michigan Iowa Ohio State Indiana Virginia North Carolina State Kentucky Virginia Tech Joe Smith Team Iowa Ohio State Michigan Minnesota Penn State Purdue Illinois Wisconsin Michigan State Indiana Northwestern Big Ten 7 0 6 0 5 1 3 3 3 3 2 4 3 3 1 5 2 4 1 5 1 6 Overall 10 1 11 0 8 2 73 7 3 4 6 4 6 6 5 4 6 37 3 8 Jeff Phillips fn b-Igan Minnesota' Iowa Iowa Ohio State Purdue Michigan State Michigan State Virginia Virginia North Carolina State North Carolina State Kentucky Kentucky Virginia Tech Syracuse THIS WEEKEND'S RESULTS Michigan 41, Minnesota 24 Ohio State 10, Purdue 6 Illinois 37, Wisconsin 20 Iowa 62, Northwestern 10 Michigan State 56, Indiana 21 Penn State 35, Virginia 14 I ............... ..................................................